Court Unable to Identify Mehman Huseynov

On February 10 the Surakhani district court chaired by Jeyhun Gadimov held a preparatory meeting at the Ministry of Interior lawsuit against the blogger Mehman Huseynov.

The blogger told Turan the lawsuit was filed by the police chief of Nasimi district Musa Musayev, who accuses the blogger of defamation (article 147.2 - defamation of a particularly serious crime) and requires bringing him to justice.

However, the judge was faced with an unusual obstacle, because he could not verify the identity of Mehman Huseynov. The blogger said three years ago the police took away his passport and identity card, and he cannot confirm that he is really Mehman Huseynov.

“Let the court first prove that Mehman Huseynov is me and require my documents from the police,” said the blogger and added that he was not familiar with the indictment and needs time to study it.

After that, the judge postponed the preparatory meeting on 17 February.

Recall that Mehman Huseynov was abducted in central Baku on January 9^th. Several men in civilian clothes seized him, tied up, pushed him into a car and drove away.

The next day, the blogger was in the Nasimi police, where he was taken to court and fined at 200 manat for “resisting police.’

After leaving the court the blogger said he was kidnapped and tortured by the police, who demanded that he stop critical reporting of the authorities. These very words of the blogger were regarded by MIA as an insult and caused the claim. -03B-